Best turnout for fine TB

[maresbay]

Hello all, wonder if I could gather some opinions as I having trouble making a decision! My very fine tb has had most of the winter off due to lack of facilities, weather, losing shoes, sore back (you name it!) As a result she is very undermuscled and I have decided she desperately needs a school to work in else we are going to get nowhere fast. The yard we are on at the moment has very quiet turnout, a small winter field where she has turnout for a few hours daily with another mare. I have found another yard with a great menage (we dont have many menages in the area and no small yards with them) BUT turnout is vast, hilly and with lots of other horses .... will she survive??? She came out of nt training last year and I have had her on a small, quiet yard ever since. I feel a larger turnout may help strengthen her up over time but she is so delicate with the longest, finest, legs ever, I am worried. Maybe I could keep her in until the fields improve and ensure that her work is built up to make her stronger for turnout + boot her up .... does anyone have any ideas? Many thanks, I'm driving myself mad!!

 

[SophieLouBee]

Could you perhaps negotiate with YO on separating a field with electric fencing, at least until she is used to her field companions? That would be my course of action.
I'd avoid keeping her in, as she will most likely go scats when you do eventually let her out, plus it will make it harder to achieve anything to start with, when you do come to work her, as she'll be very fresh! . I think boots are a great idea though, as she will most likely tank round for the first few days whatever you decide to do.

I used to look after a lanky TB, he was on box rest for ages due to a bad foot. second day of turnout, found him with a huge gash on his shoulder from being kicked, couldn't walk- equaling more box rest!

At your current yard, is there good hacking? As I find this really helps to get my horses fit, sometimes more than schooling!

 

[Achinghips]

Mine has 4 hours turnout a day, but is pessoad 3/4 times a week during the week. She's hacked on weekends.
To me, it doesn't matter if they're in or out so long as the setup is right and is kept consistent, and stops them fretting their weight off or hooning around injuring those crappy stick-thin "bane of my life" legs.

 

[toomanyhorses26]

I had a little TB for a while last year and he too had the titchy legs I have ever seen. Where I am its group turnout or nothing so we bit the bullet - turned him out with brushing boots and over reaches and after proper introductions he absolutely thrived. He still goes out in over reaches but he looks like a different animal. The consistent walking helped to strengthen him up and he looks a much more together horse. I found that actaully he was more settled and content in the group and then tended to stress when alone and actaully lived out 24/7 until december of this year - I would give her a chance and boot up and turn out. One thing when they first get mixed - don't watch they will make your heart go in your mouth

 

[turkana]

I've got a finely built exracehorse, who lives out full time in a large field in a group of 8, she is clipped & stayed out in the snow; in her previous home she lived in a big mixed sex herd.
She also hunted & played polo in her last home so she's as tough as old boots, I think your horse will be fine but you know him best, some tbs can be a bit delicate.